The Saratoga Union School District has honored art teacher Wenlan Lu for updating the wall murals at Argonaut Elementary School. Lu spent the summer repainting the artwork on a wall designated for handball play.
According to administrative assistant Gina Safine, the previous designs were created more than a decade ago by the daughter of former teacher Amy Roper. Those earlier works featured the school name, a paw print, and simple drawings set against a green background.
Lu’s new artwork uses vibrant colors to highlight the institution's core values while reimagining the inspirational quotes previously displayed. District spokeswoman Shannon Carr noted that the paint selected for the project was chosen specifically for its durability in inclement weather.
Lu stated that she built her designs around the original messages because she liked them. She clarified her vision after discussing with Principal Joe Bosco the specific values he wished to inspire within the Argonaut community, including inclusion, empathy, kindness, and resilience.
In separate district news, Schola Cantorum Silicon Valley is currently accepting entries from Santa Clara County high school students for its fourth Poetry to Music Contest. The theme for this year’s competition is "Belonging: Finding Your Place in the World."
A panel of judges, including Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Yosimer Reyes, will review all submissions. The winning poem will be arranged as a choral composition by composer Maria Thompson Corley and performed by the Los Altos-based choir.